You hear about low-carb diets everywhere -- there's the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Hampton's Diet and the 30-day Low-carb Diet Solution. All sorts of people are trying some form of low-carbing, from movie stars to your mailman. In fact, there's a good chance that as you're reading this, you're also thinking about a co-worker or relative that has recently lost weight on one of these plans. You might even be trying a low-carb lifestyle yourself.

Some people are totally behind the idea and really do consider it a true diet revolution but others think it's yet another passing trend. For years the medical community has recommended a balanced diet -- rich in complex carbohydrates with lots of fiber and vegetables, and a limited intake of red meat and fatty foods. Low-carb plans advise something almost completely opposite. So, what's the real story?

In this article, we'll take a look at carbohydrates, the basic idea behind low-carbing and the concept of net carbs. An increasing number of grocery stores and restaurants are responding to the needs of the low-carb consumer. Many folks following a low-fat or low-calorie plan find fast-food out of the question. Not so for the low-carb dieter. We'll take a quick peek at how you can stay true to a low-carb plan while on the go and how the fast-food industry is joining the low-carb craze.

You may think that eating just a little more than your daily meal plan allows won't make much difference. In fact, you may be surprised to discover that consistently eating just slightly more than your recommended intake has an impact. Learn how to manage portions with these easy tips.